How common is cutaneous sclerosis among patients suffering from cGVHD?
Among patients receiving an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, 70% will develop cGVHD. Cutaneous sclerosis can be seen in 15% of patients suffering from cGVHD. Sites of skin involvement include the trunk and extremities, which differentiate it from SSc that commonly starts at the digits and extends proximally. Autoantibodies against Scl70, PM-Scl, and ANCA have been reported, but it is distinguished from primary autoimmune disorders by the recent history of the patient having undergone bone marrow transplantation as well as absence of features commonly seen in rheumatic diseases associated with those autoantibodies.
